Resonator device for violins



June 15 1926. 1,588,730

I. HESSEL RESONATOR DEVICE FOR VIOLINS Filed April 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 5/001? f/cssEL ATTORNEYS June 15 1926. 1,588,730

I. HESSEL RESONATOR DEVICE FOR VIOLINS Filed April 1925 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I-[iummmmma wmum||uunm|Iminnlmmlmlmimlilllimlmlliim mmn|IIIII||iIinimiiiiiiiiiiiilinliiliiimiiliinmlimiiinn INVENTOR 100/? I /EJJE ATTORNEYS iii Patented June 15, 1 926.

UNITED STATES.

ISIDOR HESSEL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

RESONATOR DEVICE FOR VIOLINS.

Application filed April 3, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and has particular reference to stringed instruments, such as a violin, cello, base Viol, and the like.

An object of the invention is the provision of improved means whereby the tones produced by the vibrations of the strings of the instrument may be amplified or otherwise regulated to improve the resonant and tonal qualities of the instrument.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal section through violin showing the interior of the top thereof in plan view with the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the violin;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view, partly broken away and shown in section, of a slightly different form of resonator device;

Figure 5 is a similar view of still another form of resonator device;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner of mounting the springs in the form of device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a view .similar to Figure 6, showing the manner of mounting the strings in the form shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a transverse section on the line 9 4) of Figure 1.

Although a violin is employed to illustrate the application of the invention, it will be understood that the latter is applicable to other musical instruments wherein tensioned strings are employed.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the body of the violin including a top 11, bottom 12, and the tail piece 13 to which are connected the usual strings l i of the instrument.

The invention comprises a resonator device which includes a frame consisting of side members 15 and end members 16, which frame is preferably secured to the inner surface of the top 11 of the instrument and positioned medially and longitudinally Serial No. 20,348.

thereof. This frame is designed to support a resonant element which, in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, consists of a sin le coil spring 17 having its ends extended through one of the end pieces 16 of the frame and held in position by a pin 18 projected through the looped ends of said spring, the remaining portion of the spring being extended back and forth the length of the frame and around pins 19 so as to divide the spring into a plurality of lengths each substantially equal to the length of the frame. It will be understood, of course, that the number of lengths of the spring may be varied at will without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. \Vith the resonator device thus constructed and attached to the top 11 of the violin, it will be apparent that the spring 17 will be responsive to the vibrations set by the strings Lt of the instrument and will thus amplify, prolong and otherwise modify the tones produced.

In order that the resonant qualities of the device may be regulated, a damper is employed which includes a shaft 20 rotatably mounted in the back of the violin and extending longitudinally of the frame adjacent one end thereof. The outer end of the shaft 20 is provided with a milled nut 21 by means of which the shaft 20 may be easily rotated. The inner end of said shaft carries a plate or disk 22 of tapered formation and to the periphery of said plate there is secured in any preferred manner a strand 23 of soft material such as wool or the like. The portion of the strand 23 at the reduced end of the damper plate is capable of engagement with either one or two or the lengths of the spring 17', as indicated in Figure- 23, to deadcn the resonance of said lengths and thereby modify the responsiveness of the device to the vibrations of the strings 14. The shaft 20 may be also rotated to engage the portion of the strand 23 at the end of the plate 2 with all of the lengths of the spring 17 which will have the effect of rendering the spring substantially unresponsive to the vibrations of the strings 14. \Vhen the plate 22 is rotated to a neutral position with the strand 23 completely out of engagement with the lengths of the spring, it will be obvious that the full resonant qualities of the latter will be in effect.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 6, instead of employing a As an.- additional means forregulating the resonance of. the instrument and. more particularly (the. resonator device the invention provides a pair. of sound posts-28 pivotally CIR carried by theside members 15 of said device, the pivots 29fifor said posts being connected by a retractile spring 30 (Figure 9) which acts to maintain the posts 28 in'fr-ictio nal. engagement with theside members l5 and at the same time ,permitssaid .poststo be swung todifierent positions. Said spring also permits of; an independent.ad ustment of each ofx'the .posts28. Thus either orbotn of theposts may be swung-t0. the full line position shown-in Figures 1 and '2, or they may be adjusted to the dotted line position shown in the latter figures wherein the. free ends of the posts will be in engagement with the bottom 12 of the violin. These sound posts 28 may be easily adjusted to operative o-rinoperative positions by insert-inga suit able instrument through the openings formed in the top 11 of the violin. The posts 28 are. preferably mounted-ata pointadjacent the bridge 31 of the instrument and when engaged with the bottom'12 it will be obvious that they will have the usual effect of increasing the resonance of the instrulnent.

.As a still further means for regulating the tonal qualities of the violin,an adjust-able screw 32 is mounted in the tail piece 13 and capable of engagement with or disengagement from the top 11 to vary thetension of the strings 14.

What is claimed is:

1. In a musical instrument, a body, a resonator device supported within said body and responsive to vibrations produced by the tensioned strings ofsaid instrument, and a damper carried by-said body and engageable with said device to regulate the resonance thereof.

2. In a musicalinstrument, a body, a ressaid device including a frame, and sound posts having plvotal connection with said frame and each capable of independent engagement with said body to vary the resonance of said resonator device.

-i...II1 a musical instrument, a body, a resonator device supported withinsaid body and. responsive to vibrations produced by the tensioned strings ofsaid instrument, said device'including ,a frame, a plurality of lengths of resonant elements supported by said frame, and a damper carried by said body and capable of engagement with one or more of said elements to regulate the resonance of said device.

5. In a musical instrument, a body, a resonator device supported by the top of said body and including a frame, sound posts pivotally connected to said frame and independently movable relative thereto for en gagement with the bottom of said body, and a retractile spring joining. said sound posts and operable to maintain the same in frictional engagement with said frame.

6. in a musical instrtunent, a body, a resonator device supported within said body and including a plurality of, lengths of resonant elements, a shaft rotatably carried by said body, a tapered plate supported by said shaft, and a damper element secured to the periphery of said plate, the portion of saidelement at the reduced end of said plate being capable of engagement with one or more of said-lengths and a portion of said element at the enlarged end of said plate being capable of engagement with all of said lengths. V

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

ISIDOR HESSEL. 

